Difference between revisions of "Battle of Toba-Fushimi"

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Former [[Shogun]] [[Tokugawa Yoshinobu]] moved to [[Osaka castle|Ôsaka castle]] from [[Nijo castle]] after [[Osei Fukko|Ôsei Fukko]] in December [[1867]].
 
Former [[Shogun]] [[Tokugawa Yoshinobu]] moved to [[Osaka castle|Ôsaka castle]] from [[Nijo castle]] after [[Osei Fukko|Ôsei Fukko]] in December [[1867]].
−
[[Satsuma han|Satsuma]] needed to lure the Tokugawa into war in order to destroy the power of the Bakufu, so they had [[Ronin|Rônin]] terrorize Edo.
+
[[Satsuma han|Satsuma]] needed to lure the Tokugawa into war in order to destroy the power of the Bakufu, so they had [[Ronin|Rônin]] terrorize Edo. This had the desired effect when Bakufu forces in Edo burnt down the Satsuma mansion there.  
 
On 1868/1/2 Bakufu retainers left Osaka for Kyoto to subdue the forces of Satsuma.
 
On 1868/1/2 Bakufu retainers left Osaka for Kyoto to subdue the forces of Satsuma.
 
Bakufu Loyalist forces numbered around 10,000~15,000. They were opposed by pro-Imperial forces of about 3500~5000 which were advancing upon Fushimi from the north. Most of these troops were from Satsuma, but contingents from [[Tosa han|Tosa]] and [[Choshu han|Chôshû]] were also present.  
 
Bakufu Loyalist forces numbered around 10,000~15,000. They were opposed by pro-Imperial forces of about 3500~5000 which were advancing upon Fushimi from the north. Most of these troops were from Satsuma, but contingents from [[Tosa han|Tosa]] and [[Choshu han|Chôshû]] were also present.  
 +
 
==Jan 3==
 
==Jan 3==
−
The battle started near Koeda bridge in Toba.
+
The battle started near Koeda bridge in Toba. Satsuma's units fired at the Bakufu troops. The Bakufu's commander believed that Satsuma would yield the way when confronted with his 10,000 troops. Therefore, despite the enemy fire, the Bakufu were not expecting a battle and did not engage the Satsuma forces.
−
The Satsuma's units fired at the Bakufu troops. The Bakufu's commander believed that Satsuma would yield the way if they saw the 10,000 troops. Therefore, despite the enemy fire, the Bakufu were not expecting a battle and did not engage the Satsuma forces.
 
  
−
At same time, the Satsuma-Chôshû alliance forces and the Bakufu troops started firing at each other in Fushimi area.  
+
Concurrently, the Satsuma-Chôshû alliance forces and the Bakufu troops started firing at each other in the Fushimi area.  
−
Satsuma positioned at ''Gokôgû'' which was higher than Fushumi Bugyo where Bakufu troops positioned.
+
The Satsuma, who were well armed with modern artillery, were positioned at ''Gokôgû''. This hilltop position was on higher ground than Fushumi Bugyo (magistrate’s office) where the Bakufu troops were positioned.  
−
Satsuma forces were easily able to aim their enemies but the Bakufu troops were having hard time to see Satsuma forces.
+
Satsuma forces were easily able to spot and fire upon their enemies, but the Bakufu troops were having a hard time establishing a line of sight to the Satsuma forces.  
−
The Shinsengumi engaged Satsuma forces armed with artillery that occupied a hill overlooking their position. This foolhardy charge against a well fortified hilltop position bristling with guns had predictable results, and the Shinsengumi were roughed up badly. 20 of their men were killed.  
+
The Bakufu’s Shinsengumi force decided to directly engage the Satsuma forces. This foolhardy charge against a well fortified hilltop position bristling with guns had predictable results, and the Shinsengumi were roughed up badly. 20 of their men were killed.  
−
Surprisingly, the Bakufu troop commander [[Takenaka Shigetaka]] was missing during the battle.
+
Surprisingly, the Bakufu troop commander [[Takenaka Shigetaka]] was missing during the battle. The absence and incompetence of their commanders put the Bakufu troops in both Toba and Fushimi at a severe disadvantage.
−
The incompetence of the commanders caused disadvantage to the Bakufu troops in both Toba and Fushimi.
+
The Bakufu troops retreated to Yodo during the night.
−
The Bakufu troops retreated to Yodo at the night.
 
  
−
==Jan 4,5==
+
==Jan 4, 5==
 
The battles in Toba and Fushimi continued.
 
The battles in Toba and Fushimi continued.
−
Jan 5, Emperor Meiji gave the Imperial flag and a sword to prince [[Ninnajinomiya Yoshiaki]] who was chosen to be commander of Imperial troops.
+
On Jan 5, Emperor Meiji gave the Imperial flag and a sword to prince [[Ninnajinomiya Yoshiaki]] who was chosen to be the commander of the Imperial troops.
−
When the flag appeared at the front line, it confused the Bakufu troops.
+
When the flag appeared at the front line, it confused the forces of the Bakufu. The Imperial banner in effect changed the entire situation, now establishing the Satsuma forces as the Imperial Army. Any attack against them would now be seen as an attack on the Emperor and the Bakufu would be branded as rebels. Many Bakufu troops ran off rather than do this.
  
 
The defeated Bakufu troops tried to enter [[Yodo castle]].  
 
The defeated Bakufu troops tried to enter [[Yodo castle]].  
−
The castle was residence of [[Inaba Masakuni]] who was [[Roju|Rôjû]] (High rank Bakufu retainer. He was in Edo at the time).
+
The castle was the residence of [[Inaba Masakuni]] who was [[Roju|Rôjû]] (High ranking Bakufu retainer). Inaba was in Edo at the time. The castle refused to open the gate and the Bakufu troops had to retreat to the South.
−
But the castle didn't open the gate and the Bakufu troops had to retreat to South.
 
  
 
==Jan 6==
 
==Jan 6==
−
[[Todo clan|Tôdô clan]] of [[Tsu han]] also betrayed Bakufu and [[Aki han]] joined the Imperial troops.
+
The [[Todo clan|Tôdô clan]] of [[Tsu han]] also betrayed the Bakufu and [[Aki han]] joined the Imperial troops.
−
The batrayals shocked Bakufu troops, they became demoralized and defeated.
+
The betrayals shocked the Bakufu forces, and they became demoralized and defeatist.
−
Then the wait-and-see [[Gosanke]] and many han in West decided to take the Imperial troop side.
+
This was compounded when the ‘fencesitters’ [[Gosanke]] and many Western han decided to take the Imperial troop side.
−
When the Bakufu troops retreated to Ôsaka, their master Tokugawa Yoshinobu was already gone. He and [[Matsudaira Katamori]], [[Matsudaira Sadaaki]],[[Itakura Katsukyo]](Rôjû),[[Sakai Tadato]] (Rôjû) escaped from Ôsaka castle secretly and took a ship to [[Edo]] which dissapointed the wounded Bakufu troops.
+
When the Bakufu troops retreated to Ôsaka, their master Tokugawa Yoshinobu was already gone. [[Matsudaira Katamori]], [[Matsudaira Sadaaki]], [[Itakura Katsukyo]] (Rôjû), and [[Sakai Tadato]] (Rôjû) also escaped from Ôsaka castle secretly and took a ship to [[Edo]]. This came as a shock to the Bakufu troops. The exit of their leadership further sapped their will to fight.
  
 
==Bakufu Loyalist troops==
 
==Bakufu Loyalist troops==

Revision as of 00:30, 19 March 2007

  • Bakufu loyalists Vs. Emperor loyalists
    • Date: 1868/1/3-6
    • Location: Toba, Fushimi

Former Shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu moved to Ôsaka castle from Nijo castle after Ôsei Fukko in December 1867. Satsuma needed to lure the Tokugawa into war in order to destroy the power of the Bakufu, so they had Rônin terrorize Edo. This had the desired effect when Bakufu forces in Edo burnt down the Satsuma mansion there. On 1868/1/2 Bakufu retainers left Osaka for Kyoto to subdue the forces of Satsuma. Bakufu Loyalist forces numbered around 10,000~15,000. They were opposed by pro-Imperial forces of about 3500~5000 which were advancing upon Fushimi from the north. Most of these troops were from Satsuma, but contingents from Tosa and Chôshû were also present.

Jan 3

The battle started near Koeda bridge in Toba. Satsuma's units fired at the Bakufu troops. The Bakufu's commander believed that Satsuma would yield the way when confronted with his 10,000 troops. Therefore, despite the enemy fire, the Bakufu were not expecting a battle and did not engage the Satsuma forces.

Concurrently, the Satsuma-Chôshû alliance forces and the Bakufu troops started firing at each other in the Fushimi area. The Satsuma, who were well armed with modern artillery, were positioned at Gokôgû. This hilltop position was on higher ground than Fushumi Bugyo (magistrate’s office) where the Bakufu troops were positioned. Satsuma forces were easily able to spot and fire upon their enemies, but the Bakufu troops were having a hard time establishing a line of sight to the Satsuma forces. The Bakufu’s Shinsengumi force decided to directly engage the Satsuma forces. This foolhardy charge against a well fortified hilltop position bristling with guns had predictable results, and the Shinsengumi were roughed up badly. 20 of their men were killed. Surprisingly, the Bakufu troop commander Takenaka Shigetaka was missing during the battle. The absence and incompetence of their commanders put the Bakufu troops in both Toba and Fushimi at a severe disadvantage. The Bakufu troops retreated to Yodo during the night.

Jan 4, 5

The battles in Toba and Fushimi continued. On Jan 5, Emperor Meiji gave the Imperial flag and a sword to prince Ninnajinomiya Yoshiaki who was chosen to be the commander of the Imperial troops. When the flag appeared at the front line, it confused the forces of the Bakufu. The Imperial banner in effect changed the entire situation, now establishing the Satsuma forces as the Imperial Army. Any attack against them would now be seen as an attack on the Emperor and the Bakufu would be branded as rebels. Many Bakufu troops ran off rather than do this.

The defeated Bakufu troops tried to enter Yodo castle. The castle was the residence of Inaba Masakuni who was Rôjû (High ranking Bakufu retainer). Inaba was in Edo at the time. The castle refused to open the gate and the Bakufu troops had to retreat to the South.

Jan 6

The Tôdô clan of Tsu han also betrayed the Bakufu and Aki han joined the Imperial troops. The betrayals shocked the Bakufu forces, and they became demoralized and defeatist. This was compounded when the ‘fencesitters’ Gosanke and many Western han decided to take the Imperial troop side. When the Bakufu troops retreated to Ôsaka, their master Tokugawa Yoshinobu was already gone. Matsudaira Katamori, Matsudaira Sadaaki, Itakura Katsukyo (Rôjû), and Sakai Tadato (Rôjû) also escaped from Ôsaka castle secretly and took a ship to Edo. This came as a shock to the Bakufu troops. The exit of their leadership further sapped their will to fight.

Bakufu Loyalist troops

  • Fushimi Area
    • Commander: Takenaka Shigetaka
    • Infantry Unit4: 1000 (Yokota Izunokami)
    • Infantry Unit7: 800 (Osawa Kenichiro)
    • Infantry Unit11: 900 (Sakuma Shigehisa)
    • Infantry Unit12: ? (Kubota Shigeaki)
    • Denshûtai: ?
    • Yugekitai: 50 (Imahori Echizennokami)
    • Aizu han forces: ? 7 units
    • Shinsengumi: 150 (Hijikata Toshizo)
    • Takamatsu han: 300 (Miyake Kageyoshi?)
    • Toba han: 98 (Inagaki Kurobe)

Imperial troops

  • Satsuma han forces: ?
  • Chôshû han forces: 659
  • Tosa han forces: ?

References

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